WATCH | #SALockdown extension: Ramaphosa announces government pay cuts & billions in relief

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the decision to extend the national lockdown until the end of April was not taken lightly.

Addressing the nation on Thursday night, Ramaphosa announced a two-week extension of the national lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Ramaphosa said he had a three-pronged strategy to deal with the pandemic which consists, firstly, of an intensified public health response to slow down and reduce infections.

The second component was a “comprehensive package of economic support measures to assist businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic”, while the third was a programme of increased social support to “protect poor and vulnerable households”.